The World of the Heavenly Khan

NeighborsNeighbors

Map of the Tang in the middle of 8th Century

Unlike China’s neighbors during the Unlike China’s neighbors during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Northern and Southern Dynasties, new neighbors were states that new neighbors were states that patterned major elements of their patterned major elements of their governments on Chinagovernments on China

Even Tibet borrowed major political Even Tibet borrowed major political features from Chinafeatures from China

NeighborsNeighbors

Northwest: Turks Northwest: Turks North: UighursNorth: Uighurs

Allied with Tang, 756-757Allied with Tang, 756-757Sacked Luoyang in 762 Sacked Luoyang in 762 Captured Chang’an in 765Captured Chang’an in 765Allied with Tang again in 784Allied with Tang again in 784Tang depended on it for more than half a Tang depended on it for more than half a

century century

West: Tibet West: Tibet Rose after 640s and became a major Rose after 640s and became a major

military power after 650smilitary power after 650sIn 641, Emperor Taizong married In 641, Emperor Taizong married

Princess Wencheng off to the Tibetan Princess Wencheng off to the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampoking Songtsen Gampo

Began to encroach on Central Asia and, Began to encroach on Central Asia and, from 670, into the western edges of from 670, into the western edges of ChinaChina

Between 670 and 680, took several key Between 670 and 680, took several key strategic citadels around the Tarim Basinstrategic citadels around the Tarim Basin

In 695, defeated a large Chinese In 695, defeated a large Chinese army to the west of Chang’an army to the west of Chang’an

In 763, occupied modern Qinghai In 763, occupied modern Qinghai and Gansu, pushed into Shannxi and and Gansu, pushed into Shannxi and pillaged Chang’anpillaged Chang’anBetween 637 and 753, Tang sent more than Between 637 and 753, Tang sent more than

fifty diplomatic missions to northern India in fifty diplomatic missions to northern India in search of both trade and allies against Tibetsearch of both trade and allies against Tibet

in 765, captured Chang’an again in 765, captured Chang’an again (with Uighurs) (with Uighurs)

In 783, Tang recognized Tibet’s In 783, Tang recognized Tibet’s conquests of the west of China conquests of the west of China

In 790, Tibet defeated the In 790, Tibet defeated the combined Tang and Uighur forces, combined Tang and Uighur forces, occupied northwestern China, and occupied northwestern China, and ended China’s control of this area ended China’s control of this area for almost a millenniumfor almost a millennium

In 821, Tang and Tibet signed a In 821, Tang and Tibet signed a treaty that recognized the current treaty that recognized the current boundaries and that defined boundaries and that defined relations between “two fully relations between “two fully sovereign states” sovereign states”

Southwest: NanzhaoSouthwest: NanzhaoBecame militarily strong after 650s Became militarily strong after 650s Played Tang China against TibetPlayed Tang China against TibetInIn 829829 invadedinvaded SichuanSichuan andand reachedreached

thethe outskirtoutskirt ofof thethe capital,capital, ChengduChengduInIn 859,859, attackedattacked thethe AnnanAnnan

protectorate-generalprotectorate-general repeatedlyrepeatedly andand tooktook controlcontrol ofof JiaozhiJiaozhi (Hanoi)(Hanoi) untiluntil 863.863.

Bureaucracy and examination system Bureaucracy and examination system patterned on the Tang, some customs patterned on the Tang, some customs incorporated elements of Tibetan practiceincorporated elements of Tibetan practice

Converted to Buddhism, adopted Chinese Converted to Buddhism, adopted Chinese writing systemwriting system

Northeast: KhitansNortheast: KhitansOccupied northeastern China (Hebei) in Occupied northeastern China (Hebei) in

690s.690s.Threatened Tang after rising again before Threatened Tang after rising again before

756756Remained a threat to China until Remained a threat to China until

Northern Song.Northern Song.

Southeast: Vietnam Jiaozhou declared independent in 541 Taken by the Sui but became independent

again after the Sui fell in 617 The Tang reconquered most of modern

Vietnam In 679, became one of Tang’s

“protectorates” Through out most of the Tang, Jiaozhou

remained an orderly region

Its capital, Jiaozhi (Hanoi), lost its role in international trade to Panyu ( 番禺 pān yú, modern Guanzhou) of the Tang Persian and Arab merchants stopped at

Jiaozhi earlier Now went directly to Panyu

In 938, Ngo Quyen (Wu Quan 吳權 ), established an independent state that eventually became Vietnam

Continued to employ Tang script, weights, measures, and coinage. Confucianism and Buddhism continued to flourish.

Northeast—Korea Three kingdoms during the Tang: Koguryo, Silla, and Paekche

The Sui paid a price to launch unsuccessful campaigns against them

All three sent tribute to the Tang Recognized as independent states by Tang in 622

In 640, princes of the Korean states studied at the imperial academy in Chang’an

In 645, 647, and 648, Taizong led expeditions against Koguryo to avenge death of its prince, who had studied in Chang’an and was killed and mutilated by his minister after returning to Koguryo; these expeditions were unsuccessful

Under Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu, Tang allied with Silla, occupied Paekche and launched an expedition against Koguryo, which collapsed after its ruler’s death

In 668, Tang occupied Koguryo. In 670s, the newly sinicized Silla united most of Korea, which remained a nominal Tang vassal institutionally modeled on the Tang.

Joined the East Asian Cultural sphere, Confucianism and Buddhism flourished.

Dominated maritime trade with China in the northeast

East--JapanEast--Japan Japan began to Japan began to

send embassy to send embassy to China in the China in the beginning of the beginning of the 7th century; 4 7th century; 4 times during the times during the SuiSui Prince Shōtoku Prince Shōtoku

dispatched this dispatched this official embassy in official embassy in 607. Dozens of 607. Dozens of Buddhist monks Buddhist monks came along with came along with this missionthis mission

StartedStarted fromfrom 630 AD,630 AD, 100 to 650 officials, 100 to 650 officials, students, and monks students, and monks joined each mission.joined each mission.

Studied Chinese Studied Chinese political and rituals political and rituals systems, school and systems, school and the civil service the civil service examinations system, examinations system, calendar, law, calendar, law, customs, arts, writing customs, arts, writing system, calligraphy, system, calligraphy, painting, sculpture, painting, sculpture, music, dancemusic, dance……

Prince Shōtoku (16 years old), Kamakura Period, 14th Century

KentōshiKentōshi (Qian(Qian TangTang shishi 遣唐使遣唐使 ): ): official embassy sent to China official embassy sent to China 12 times (plus 7 failing 12 times (plus 7 failing missions) during the Tangmissions) during the Tang

17

Prince Shōtoku’s “Seventeen Article Constitution” (604) begins with a quotation from the Confucian Analects, which says “Harmony is to be valued”

Famous monks Famous monks included Gembō, included Gembō, Kukai, Saichō, Kukai, Saichō, Ennin, EnchinEnnin, EnchinBuddhism spread Buddhism spread

in Japan and the in Japan and the Tiantai (Jpn. Tiantai (Jpn. Tendai) School of Tendai) School of Buddhism Buddhism became the became the most prominent most prominent school.school.

InIn 649,649, thethe JapaneseJapanese courtcourt launchedlaunched aa seriesseries ofof majormajor politicalpolitical reformsreforms toto establishestablish aa centralizedcentralized monarchymonarchy modeledmodeled onon thethe TangTang systemsystem ((TaikaTaika ReformReform,, 大化大化のの改新改新 ,, TaikaTaika nono KaishinKaishin))LegalLegal code,code, militarymilitary system,system, landholdinglandholding

patterns,patterns, taxation,taxation, ChineseChinese writingwriting andand elementselements ofof eliteelite cultureculture includingincluding costume,costume, poetry,poetry, music,music, painting,painting, calligraphy,calligraphy, Confucianism,Confucianism, Buddhism...Buddhism...

OthersOthers includedincluded customs,customs, foodfood stuff,stuff, agriculturalagricultural tools,tools, architecture,architecture, imageimage making…making…

Foreigners in Tang ChinaForeigners in Tang China

Three keys to the Three keys to the vitality of the Tangvitality of the Tang EclecticismEclecticism CosmopolitanismCosmopolitanism internationalizationinternationalization

Foreigners according to Foreigners according to their social status:their social status: Envoys, merchants, Envoys, merchants,

performers, soldiers, performers, soldiers, clericsclerics

Foreigners according to their origins:Foreigners according to their origins:East: Koreans, JapaneseEast: Koreans, JapaneseWest: Arabs, Persians, Sogdians, Central West: Arabs, Persians, Sogdians, Central

Asians Asians North: Turks, Uighurs, North: Turks, Uighurs, Southwest: TibetansSouthwest: TibetansSoutheast: VietnameseSoutheast: Vietnamese

Religions came with them:Religions came with them:West: Islam, Judaism, Manichaeanism, West: Islam, Judaism, Manichaeanism,

Nestorian Christianity, Nestorian Christianity, India, Central Asia and Tibet: Buddhism, India, Central Asia and Tibet: Buddhism,

Tantric Buddhism (Vajrayana Buddhism)Tantric Buddhism (Vajrayana Buddhism)

Goods they brought to the Tang:Goods they brought to the Tang:West: West: silvers, jewels, musical silvers, jewels, musical

instruments, textilesinstruments, textilesSoutheastSoutheast: : rice, spices, rhinoceros rice, spices, rhinoceros

horns, elephants tusks, pearlshorns, elephants tusks, pearlsOther things: Other things:

wild animals, furs, feathers, rare plants, wild animals, furs, feathers, rare plants, tropical wood, exotic foods, perfumes, tropical wood, exotic foods, perfumes, drugs, textiles, dyes, jewels, metals, drugs, textiles, dyes, jewels, metals, diverse curios (sacred and secular), diverse curios (sacred and secular), books, maps…books, maps…

People they brought:People they brought:Slaves, dwarves, entertainers, Slaves, dwarves, entertainers,

mercenary soldiersmercenary soldiers

Foreigners Foreigners and their and their cultures:cultures: Indians and Central Indians and Central

AsiansAsians——Buddhism, Buddhism, camels, music, camels, music, astronomy, astrology, astronomy, astrology, mathematics, mathematics,

TibetansTibetans——Tantric Tantric BuddhismBuddhism

TurkishTurkish——language language and clothes, horses, and clothes, horses, IslamIslam

Foreign traders in ChinaUighurs dominated the money-lending

profession in Chang’anSogdians ran wine shipsCentral Asians provided female

entertainers, music and danceExamples of artifacts unearthed in

China

Gold Coin, Justin II

AD 565-578 East Roman Empire

Unearthed, 1988Xianyang Airport Construction site

Probably from Byzantine Empire,

3rd-5th C or Eastof the Mediterranean

Sea , 8th-9th CUnearthed 1987, Famen

Temple

Probably from Central AsiaUnearthed, 1987Famen Temple

Bronze VaseOrigin unclear

Unearthed 1985, Shanxi, Qingshan

Temple site